Lettuce hair is a gentler mullet with a wavy top, tapered sides, and feathery tail
The hairstyle originated from ice hockey players in the 70s-80s and evolved into modern 'flow' style
Celebrities like Jacob Elordi, Harry Styles, and Brad Pitt have adopted the trend
The style has transitioned from sports arenas to Hollywood red carpets
The trend is seen as a confidence booster with some players getting perms or bleaching for extra impact
📖 Full Retelling
Ice hockey players and Hollywood celebrities have embraced the 'lettuce hair' trend, a gentler version of the mullet hairstyle that has transitioned from sports arenas to red carpets across the globe. The distinctive haircut, characterized by a loose and wavy top, softly tapered sides, and a feathery tail resembling leafy greens, has gained popularity since its emergence in the 1970s and 1980s among hockey players who refused to fully abandon the mullet when it fell out of fashion. The style features more subtle length differences between the back, sides, and top of the hair, creating a modern interpretation that hockey players affectionately call 'flow' or 'flow state' – referring to the longer tufts of hair fluttering out from under helmets during games. During recent Winter Olympics, notable players like William Nylander, Mika Zibanejad, and Moritz Seider showcased their 'great lettuce,' while figure skater Ilia Malinin's butter-lettuce locks added dramatic flair to his performances. Beyond the rink, the trend has captivated Hollywood with Jacob Elordi sporting the style during his Wuthering Heights press tour, Barry Keoghan embracing it for his role as Ringo Starr, and Harry Styles featuring it in promotional photos for his new album Aperture. Other celebrities including Glen Powell, Brad Pitt, Paul Mescal, and Austin Butler have also recently succumbed to the salad-inspired look, demonstrating how the unconventional hairstyle has evolved from a sports identity marker to a mainstream fashion statement that boosts confidence and makes a bold visual impact.
The Winter Olympic Games (French: Jeux olympiques d'hiver), also known as the Olympic Winter Games or simply the Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were...
The lettuce hair trend shows how a niche sports style can influence mainstream celebrity fashion, blending athletic identity with Hollywood glamour. It highlights the power of social media in turning a practical hairstyle into a cultural symbol.
Context & Background
Originated as a softened mullet in 70s-80s ice hockey culture
Spread to Hollywood through TikTok, YouTube and red-carpet appearances
Represents confidence and individuality for athletes and entertainers
What Happens Next
If the trend continues, more actors and athletes may adopt the style, prompting hair salons to offer specialized products. The trend could also inspire fashion collaborations and become a seasonal staple in celebrity lookbooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is lettuce hair?
A modern mullet with a loose, wavy top, softly tapered sides and a feathery tail that resembles leafy greens.
How did it become popular?
It gained traction on TikTok where hockey teams showcased the look, then moved to red carpets as celebrities copied the style.
Which celebrities have adopted the look?
Actors like Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Glen Powell, Brad Pitt, Paul Mescal and Austin Butler have been photographed with lettuce hair.
Does the hairstyle affect athletic performance?
No physical advantage is claimed, but many say that looking confident can boost mental focus and confidence.
Original Source
Salad praise: how ice hockey’s ‘lettuce’ hair is winning over Hollywood Gentler take on mullet has flowed over shoulders at Winter Olympics and is now tossed on red carpets Hair cut ideas are typically drummed up in the salon, but recently a more unconventional source of inspiration has appeared: the vegetable aisle. “Lettuce hair” is trending. A gentler take on a traditional mullet, the new salad style consists of more subtle differences in the length between the back, sides and top of the hair. Lettuce hair features a loose and often wavy top, softly tapered sides and a feathery tail that skims the back of the neck, resembling leafy greens. For the Wuthering Heights press tour, Jacob Elordi toned down his on-screen regency cut, tapering the sides but keeping the windswept top and tail, bringing to mind a head of romaine lettuce. The wavy locks of Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie could be mistaken for a curled endive, while the figure skater Ilia Malinin’s butter-lettuce locks add extra drama to the Quad God’s dizzying axels. The salad style stems from the world of ice hockey, where players widely embraced the mullet during the 70s and 80s. Despite the mullet’s demise in the 90s, hockey players were slow to ditch “the party at the back” and instead toned it down, resulting in more modern lettuce locks. “The classic sign of proper hockey hair is that you can clearly see it flowing out at the back while wearing a helmet,” says Markus Ekroth, who is a right-winger for Sweden’s Nackarockers. The team have amassed hundreds of thousands of views of their TikTok videos that showcase the team’s best lettuce hair. “I have naturally wavy hair, so I usually ask my hairdresser to keep some length at the back, especially around the neck, and enough length on top so I can tuck it behind my ears,” Ekroth says. “If you have good lettuce, people will definitely notice. It’s seen as a bonus and part of the hockey identity.” Hockey players refer to the longer tufts of hair fluttering ...
